Welcome to The Master’s Tax & Financial Services
Our website is an information resource designed to help you learn more about personal finance. We believe that good financial decisions don’t have to be confusing. Our hope is that this website will assist you in learning more about tax issues, investing, retirement, insurance, preparing financially for college, estate planning, and wealth preservation.
As in other areas of life, each of us will be more successful in our financial matters if we hold to a clear objective and make decisions in alignment with our objective. Janelle and Richard are prepared to assist you to:
- Clarify and define your goals
- Identify solutions that fit your needs
- File complete and accurate tax returns taking your best elections
- Plan for future tax events in order to minimize taxes
- Understand how changing financial conditions affect you
- Track your financial progress
- Make investment planning easier (Richard)
Through years of disciplined saving Richard was able to retire from his engineering work early in 2013 at the age of 58. Retirement not only allows more time for grandchildren, but more time for this business. Whatever your future financial goals are - retirement, helping fund college for children or grandchildren, or others - Richard is prepared to help.
No one likes to see a letter from the IRS or state tax or revenue authority, but both Janelle and Richard have taken advanced course work on helping people work through these situations. Both are licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
We are open year-round. During the summer we are often out for a week or so for specialized Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or vacation with grandchildren. But we stay in touch and can help you address your concerns.
Please browse our site. It will not only introduce you to our company philosophy and services, but it will also offer a wealth of educational materials, articles, newsletters, calculators, and other tools — all designed to keep you up-to-date on financial issues, strategies, and trends. This educational material is updated frequently.
Helpful Content
Insuring Your Second Home
There are unique risks of owning a second home and obtaining the proper coverage may protect you from financial risk.
A Living Trust Primer
Living trusts are popular, but their appropriateness will depend upon your individual needs and objectives.
Avoiding Cognitive Decline
Try these activities to keep your brain sharp.
Questions to Ask About Medicare
Take the guesswork out of your IEP or SEP with this helpful article.
Retirement & Rising Costs: Managing Inflation Risk
Inflation affects every retiree. Discover smart ways to manage rising costs and keep your retirement plan on track.
When Heirs are Imperfect
The money problems or bad lifestyle habits of adult children could lead to the squandering of any inheritance they receive.
Your Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?
Having an emergency fund may help alleviate the stress and worry associated with a financial crisis.
Social Security: The Elephant in the Room
Some people wonder if Social Security will remain financially sound enough to pay the benefits they are owed.
Can I Create a Roth if I’m Over the Income Limit?
Use this article to start conversations about the “backdoor” Roth IRA strategy.
View all articles 
Monthly Budget
Track your monthly income and expenses to get a clearer view of your cash flow.
College Savings
See how much you may need to save now to cover future college costs for your child.
Student Loan Refinance Calculator
Compare your current student loan terms to a potential refinance to see if it makes sense.
Social Security Tax Estimator
Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax.
Assess Your Life Insurance Needs
Estimate how much life insurance coverage may be appropriate for your situation.
Simple 401k
See how increasing your 401(k) contributions today could affect your balance at retirement.
View all calculators
An Arm and a Leg
A visit to the hospital can be painful, for both your body and your wallet. Don't let it be more painful than it has to be.
The Wild West of Data Theft
Learn about cyber liability insurance in this entertaining video.
Forecast
This short video helps explain why markets can be as unpredictable as the weather.
The Cost of Procrastination
Procrastination can be costly. When you get a late start, it may be difficult to make up for lost time.
Behavioral Finance
An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.
Safeguard Your Digital Estate
If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?